A Summer Of Changes

Chapter 1: New Home

By: Cherry922

"I'm so sorry," was what everyone was saying to me, "I know you were close." I didn't want their stupid pity. Their words were useless, no matter what they said, he wouldn't come back. All I wanted to do was be alone, not to be surrounded by people who thought they understood what I was going through, but I couldn't.

I didn't go to my father's funeral; I didn't care if people thought I had no respect. I didn't want to stare into his face, not wile he is laying in a casket.

I didn't know what would become of me. I was staying at neighbors' house wile my father's lawyer looked over his will. When the day came that I was to meet with the lawyer I was nervous. I walked into a very fancy office building, following the directions that the lawyer gave me I finally found my way to room 477. A secretary at a wooden desk let me into an office painted vomit green. There was a long table with many chairs, at the end sat a grey haired man who looked up when I opened the heavy door. "You must be Georgia," He said in a deep voice, "Sit down," I took the seat across from him. He pulled out a manila colored folder filled with official looking papers. "You know you dad specifically specified were he wanted you to go. Your wondering what is to become of you? " He asked. He was trying to be nice, and I couldn't have any of that. "Duh" I snarled.

"Well first off let me say that your father was a very good man and I'm so sorry, that he had to leave so soon, I understand you were close." He said.

"I know my father. I know he was a good man. I know he was sorry. I know you're sorry. So let's skip to the part were I found out were I'm living." I said, hopefully deflating any hope he had of our becoming friends.

This man was unbeatable it seemed. He smiled, showing all his teeth. "Your father was very specific of were he wanted you to stay," He said looking over the papers, "He wanted you to live with his sister and her husband, they live on a cattle farm in Georgia." I raised my eyebrows, a cattle farm! I was raised in New York City, I was NOT a country girl girl, I couldn't survive a day on a farm, and my father knew that! Why would he say in his will that I was to live there?

"Hell no, your lying. He never said that. I've never met his sister. I've never met any of his family." I barked.

"Well then! I'm glad your happy about you're arrangements! I will pick you up this Saturday at 9:00 in the morning, we have a long drive." He said cheerfully as he left the room.

"You have to be kidding me!" I yelled, but he had already disappeared.

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I woke up to somebody knocking on my temporary bedroom door. It was my neighbor; he told me my dad's lawyer would be here in 30 minutes, and to get ready. It didn't take me long to pack, for I didn't really unpack in the first place. I put on my dark eyeliner and shadow. I got dressed in a dark purple mini skirt and a dark top. I put on tall black boots. Wearing dark colors was my way of mourning for my father, and kind of a way to scare off blessing givers. I had even gone as far as dying my light brunette hair black.

I went down the elevator and waited in the apartment lobby. My father's lawyer came right on time, typical for business men. He led me out of the apartment building, the place I had lived my whole life. I made sure to take a good look at it, incase I never got to see it again.

I stared out the window as we started the long drive to Montana. I watched the landscape and how it changed from the city to the country. My father's lawyer tried to start up conversations, but I pretended to be asleep, I didn't want to talk. We didn't stop but for restroom brakes. We got to my aunts farm at about midnight. I gave the lawyer guy a nasty look when I saw that I was going to live in a small cabin. He just smiled.

I walked up the dirty stairs and knocked on the door. A gray haired woman, who must have been beautiful at some point in her youth, answered the door. "Georgia!" She squealed embracing me in a big tight bear hug, "Come in come in. Jim, me and your cousin Matt stayed up so we could all see you!" She said happily, "My you've gotten' tall! And real pretty too!" I followed her into small kitchen were an old man and a boy about 12 sat. They were all wearing sweat stained farm cloths, and I felt overdressed in my designer skirt and top.

"Isn't she a beauty Jim? Just look at her. A spitting image of her father! All except for her black hair. Wonder if you got that from your ma?" She said beaming.

"Maybe" I mumbled not wanting to explain my mourning method.

"Alright let me show you to your room darling. Then you can settle in. Do you have any more bags?"

"I'll go get them the business man offered and left.

My room was in the attic. It had walls, yet it looked like it hadn't been used for centuries. The bed was small, and the only source of light came from a lamp on the nightstand.

"I'll let you unpack sweet potato, we're all tired we're going to get some sleep. We wake up at dawn every morning, just as the rooster calls. So we'll be up when you get up. Tomorrow we wont make you work, but the next day, your hides gonna be so sore you'd rather be kicked of a mule, I tell you." She said, "Goodnight,"

I didn't answer. And I didn't unpack. There was really no use.

"I'm not staying here lady," I whispered into my pillow "Not in this hell hole. I'll get out of it as soon as I'm able."

I turned the knob on the lamp. The little light that lit up the room faded. I lay down to my first night in Montana.